US11853834B2 - Electronic shelf labelling system with a shelf edge strip sub-system - Google Patents
Electronic shelf labelling system with a shelf edge strip sub-system Download PDFInfo
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- US11853834B2 US11853834B2 US17/617,715 US201917617715A US11853834B2 US 11853834 B2 US11853834 B2 US 11853834B2 US 201917617715 A US201917617715 A US 201917617715A US 11853834 B2 US11853834 B2 US 11853834B2
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- G06K7/10297—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092
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Definitions
- the invention relates to an electronic shelf label system having a shelf edge strip sub-system.
- ESL system for short
- ESL stands for “electronic shelf label”
- having a proprietary shelf edge strip sub-system is known, for example, from international patent application WO 2017/153481 A1.
- the shelf edge strip is equipped with electrical conductor tracks, with the aid of which the ESLs of the shelf edge strip are actuated by means of a management module of the shelf edge strip.
- the ESLs have on their rear side resilient contacts, with which the conductor tracks are contacted in order to connect the ESLs electrically to the management module.
- this shelf edge strip sub-system is relatively expensive because a large number of in particular individual mechanical components must be provided in each ESL and in each shelf edge strip. These mechanical components are subject to natural wear. In addition, the mechanical components can become dirty or even damaged if not handled properly. This can lead to malfunctions during operation. The mechanical components are also associated with considerable additional outlay in both production and maintenance, which is necessary during operation to avoid the aforementioned problems.
- the known system also has the limitation that the ESLs cannot be positioned or displaced along the shelf edge strip in any desired manner.
- the object of the invention is to provide an improved ESL system in which the aforementioned problems are overcome.
- an electronic shelf label system comprises a server which is designed to address a multiplicity of shelf labels individually in order to communicate data with them in an addressed manner, and the system comprises at least one access point which is connected to the server and is designed for wireless communication of the data with the shelf labels, and the system comprises a near-field communication, NFC for short, sub-system on a shelf edge strip of a shelving unit, wherein the NFC sub-system is characterized such that the shelf edge strip comprises an NFC reader which is designed for wireless communication with the access point, and that at least one conductor loop is provided, which is connected to the NFC reader, is formed along the shelf edge strip and is used for NFC communication with an NFC-enabled shelf label, wherein at least one NFC-enabled shelf label is attached to the shelf edge strip corresponding to the conductor loop, and wherein the NFC reader is designed for NFC communication of the data with the shelf label addressed by the server.
- the NFC sub-system is characterized such that the shelf edge strip comprises an NFC reader which is designed for wireless communication with
- the object is furthermore achieved by a method for operating an electronic shelf label system, a multiplicity of shelf labels being addressed individually in the system with the aid of a server, and data being communicated with them in an addressed manner, the data being communicated wirelessly with the shelf labels in the system via at least one access point which is connected to the server, the system comprises a near-field communication, NFC for short, sub-system on a shelf edge strip of a shelving unit, wherein the NFC sub-system is characterized such that the shelf edge strip comprises an NFC reader which is designed for wireless communication with the access point, and that at least one conductor loop is provided which is connected to the NFC reader, is formed along the shelf edge strip and is used for NFC communication with an NFC-enabled shelf label, wherein at least one NFC-enabled shelf label is attached to the shelf edge strip corresponding to the conductor loop, and wherein according to the method the data are communicated by means of NFC communication between the NFC reader and the shelf label addressed by the server.
- the object is furthermore achieved by the use of a near-field communication, NFC for short, sub-system on a shelf edge strip of a shelving unit of an electronic shelf label system, wherein the shelf edge strip comprises an NFC reader and at least one conductor loop which is connected to the NFC reader, is formed along the shelf edge strip and is used for NFC communication with an NFC-enabled shelf label, and at least one NFC-enabled shelf label is attached to the shelf edge strip corresponding to the conductor loop and is designed for NFC communication with the NFC reader, wherein the NFC sub-system is used to communicate data with a shelf label addressed by a server of the system in an NFC communication.
- NFC near-field communication
- the measures according to the invention are associated with the advantage that the shelf label to be attached to the shelf edge strip is completely free of electromechanical contacts and the problems associated therewith.
- each shelf label must have a specific, proprietary electromechanical design, only a standardized NFC communication module must be provided in the shelf label in order to communicate contactlessly according to a (common) NFC specification or an NFC standard with the NFC reader forming a shelf edge strip management module (also referred to as shelf edge strip controller).
- the integration of this standardized NFC module has a considerable positive effect on the cost structure of the overall system.
- the shelf label can be produced much more cost-effectively and also operated without maintenance because electromechanical components, in particular those requiring maintenance, are avoided.
- electromechanical components in particular those requiring maintenance, are avoided.
- additional costs for the specific shelf edge strip with its conductor loop are not comparable with the production and operating costs which must be taken into account for the known shelf labels and the known shelf edge strips with their large number of electromechanical contact elements.
- shelf edge strips are over-long, they can also be segmented and have a number of NFC readers corresponding to the number of segments, with associated conductor loop(s) per segment (that is to say, at the location of the segments or inside the segments).
- the NFC sub-system in the electronic shelf label system assumes the role of an intermediary device in order to be able to address the shelf labels addressed by the server physically, that is to say, to communicate with them. In the NFC system, communication therefore takes place in compliance with the NFC standard, the shelf labels being addressed by means of the server, and the NFC sub-system converting or applying this addressing, which is discussed below in different exemplary embodiments.
- the data produced during communication can be status data, which for example are retrieved individually from the addressed shelf labels.
- this can also be command data representing commands which can be decoded and processed by the shelf labels and sent from the server to the addressed shelf label. These commands can, for example, effect the querying of the status data or else control other functions or functionalities of the shelf labels.
- the data can also be image content data, which is transferred to a shelf label with display medium, in order to display image content there.
- the server can be a physical computer which is accommodated on the premises of a business and is responsible for the control and management of the shelf labels and their activities there and on which corresponding control software is executed.
- the server can also be understood as a cloud solution, with which the control software is executed in a computing centre spatially separate from the business.
- the control software creates, inter alia, a logical link between individual shelf labels and products or product groups and stores the same. In addition, it manages what is known as a planogram, which represents the spatial distribution of the shelf labels in the business premises. Furthermore, this control software can also perform logistics tasks.
- the server merely to know the shelf label identifier in order to address the relevant shelf label
- the electronic shelf label can provide or fulfil a wide variety of functionalities or functions.
- the shelf label can be configured or accordingly designed e.g. to detect environmental parameters such as e.g. for temperature or moisture detection, or as an input element for receiving an input interaction of a user (e.g. detecting a fingerprint or a key press) or else as a display medium for presenting information for the user, namely as a shelf label display.
- the shelf label is designed such that it can be attached mechanically to the shelf edge strip in question and is supplied there with energy and data during NFC communication in the manner described in detail in the following.
- the NFC-enabled shelf label has a standardized, first NFC interface. This is associated with two advantages. This NFC interface is used on the one hand for local energy transmission on the shelving unit or on the shelf edge strip, specifically for a single shelf label or equally a group of shelf labels attached to this shelf edge strip, and on the other hand for bidirectional local contactless communication of data directly there.
- the shelf labels can also be supplied with energy contactlessly without additional wiring or additional power supply units.
- NFC Near Field Communication
- ISO/IEC 13157 -16353, -22536, -28361 etc.
- the shelf label when configured as a shelf label display, can comprise an energy-saving display unit such as e.g. an LCD display.
- an energy-saving display unit such as e.g. an LCD display.
- the technology used is based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology.
- a display unit of this type therefore has a reflective screen, also termed electronic paper display, abbreviated EPD, in technical jargon, and is realized with the aid of “electronic paper”, abbreviated to “e-paper” or “e-ink”.
- the black particles are placed in front of the white particles or vice versa in the viewing direction. This arrangement is then maintained for a relatively long time (e.g. a few weeks) without further energy supply.
- a relatively long time e.g. a few weeks
- the display is segmented accordingly, e.g. letters, numbers or images can be realized with relatively high resolution in order to display said information.
- Such a reflective screen can however also be realized with the aid of other technologies, which are known e.g. under the term “electrowetting” or “MEMS”.
- the screen can be designed e.g. as mentioned for black and white display, for greyscale display, for black, white and red display or else for black, white and yellow display.
- Such a screen is very generally a reflective, that is to say passive, non-self-illuminating display, in which the—relatively static—information display is based on light generated by an external (artificial or natural) light source shining onto the screen and being reflected from there to the observer.
- this display unit upon receipt of an NFC wireless signal, which is generated by the NFC reader, by the first NFC interface, this display unit is supplied with energy on the one hand and data on the other hand, which can represent commands for controlling the display unit or else image contents.
- the said data can also be transmitted via this first NFC interface, said data being processed by the display unit to the effect that the image content of its screen changes.
- corresponding status information representing the successful change of the image content can also be output by the display unit via the NFC interface.
- the energy supply via the NFC interface can be terminated, e.g. by setting the generation of the NFC wireless signal, after which the image content of the screen remains unchanged until the next desired change.
- shelf label to be realized in particular as a shelf label display without its own energy supply such as a battery or a rechargeable battery for example, which are both relatively expensive.
- a conventional shelf label must also be designed such that said energy storage devices are replaceable.
- only a capacitor for short-term, temporary smoothing or stabilization of the internal supply voltage is still used in the shelf label.
- the shelf label is therefore designed such that its electronics for communication or for updating the screen content or for receiving user interaction or for detecting environmental parameters, in particular its electronic controller, is only active when it is supplied with the aid of the NFC reader of the shelf edge strip.
- the shelf label can also have—in addition to one or more smoothing capacitors and/or backup capacitors which may be provided—a long-term energy storage device for its at least temporary autonomous energy supply.
- This long-term energy storage device can be realized, for example, by a replaceable or else chargeable battery.
- the long-term energy storage device is realized by a “supercapacitor”, “supercap” for short, also referred to as an “ultracapacitor”.
- the advantage of such a capacitor is that it is a high-power capacitor with a capacitance which is much higher than conventional capacitors, but the capacitor has lower voltage limits and bridges the gap between electrolyte capacitors and chargeable batteries.
- the long-term energy storage device for the shelf label is supplied or charged by the NFC wireless signal output via the conductor loop, as long as the NFC wireless signal is present. Charging can take place directly with the aid of a voltage generation stage, which generates a supply voltage from the received NFC wireless signal, or with the aid of the shelf label's own charging electronics. After the NFC wireless signal has gone, the electronics of the shelf label can be supplied with the aid of the long-term energy storage device at least for a much longer time than would be the case with a backup capacitor or a smoothing capacitor. This allows commands or even data itself to be processed in the absence of the NFC signal and other functionalities to be provided, such as the processing of a user input or else the detection of a temperature in a time period in which the NFC wireless signal is not present.
- the housing of the shelf label can be completely and permanently encapsulated, because it is no longer necessary to replace the energy storage device, and therefore it can only be opened for recycling purposes (e.g. with a special tool).
- a shelf label which is reduced to a few, absolutely necessary electronic components and is therefore also extremely inexpensive can thus be realized.
- This extremely reduced shelf label only needs still to have a basic functionality, such as e.g. standardized NFC communication with standardized energy supply during the NFC communication, which is realized with the aid of a commercially available NFC module.
- Updates to the screen of the energy-saving display unit and status report relating thereto or else the transmission of data relating to a user interaction or else an environmental parameter are not made directly by the shelf label display in communication with an access point, as is the case in known systems, but by the interposed NFC reader, which for its part is in wireless contact with the access point, which is discussed in detail in the following.
- a conductor loop is formed on the shelf edge strip, and the loop connectors of this conductor loop are connected to the NFC reader of the shelf edge strip.
- the conductor loop therefore forms a constituent of the NFC reader for contactless NFC communication with the NFC-enabled shelf label, which is mounted on the shelf edge strip corresponding to the conductor loop.
- “contactless” means that it can take place with the aid of an inductive coupling between two adjacently located conductor loops or coils.
- the shelf label also has a conductor loop consisting of a single loop or a plurality of windings, that is to say, a coil.
- NFC reader has a transmitter with an antenna configuration which is provided substantially by the conductor loop.
- an antenna matching network and a transmission stage, a modulator and a demodulator etc. are present. These components and their interconnection on analogue antenna components can be found in the relevant “application notes” of NFC reader IC manufacturers.
- the shelf label also has a conductor loop consisting of a single loop or winding or a multiplicity of windings, that is to say a coil.
- This coil is a constituent of the first NFC interface of the shelf label.
- the specific implementation can be found in the relevant “application notes” of the manufacturer of NFC-ICs.
- shelf label is positioned adjacently to the area spanned by the conductor loop and is located there substantially inside a zone delimited by the conductor loop.
- the conductor loop itself may be designed to be e.g. visible in the plane of the shelf edge strip or covered by a protective material (strip). If the shelf label is inserted into the shelf edge strip (that is to say, mechanically fastened there), the conductor loop or coil installed in the shelf label is automatically located in the zone usable for the inductive coupling between the two conductor loops or coils positioned next to each other.
- the areas spanned by the two conductor loops or coils are oriented parallel to each other and at a spacing of less than one millimetre to a few millimetres.
- the shelf edge strip itself is manufactured from a suitable material, preferably plastic.
- the perimeter of the conductor loop of the shelf edge strip can extend, for example, along the entire length of the shelf edge strip and at least along part of the entire height of the shelf edge strip.
- a single conductor track running round or a conductor track running around multiple times in a coil-like manner, that is, having multiple windings can be provided.
- Multiple conductor loops or coils, which are connected to the NFC reader, can also be installed along the shelf edge strip.
- the NFC reader is designed to multiplex the conductor loops. In this case, only one single conductor loop, which electronically selected, is ever used to transmit the NFC wireless signal.
- the energy supply of the NFC reader of the shelf edge strip can be realized in different ways.
- the NFC reader can be supplied using a separate power supply unit.
- a group of the NFC readers can also be supplied using a central power supply unit.
- the NFC reader is designed to be supplied with energy in a wireless manner.
- This requires a supply station, which for its part is designed as a wireless energy source for the in particular directional wireless energy supply of the NFC reader. With the aid of the supply station, therefore, a contactless, targeted energy transmission to the NFC reader takes place.
- This allows a substantially cable-free supply infrastructure for the shelf labels fastened to the shelf edge strip on the one hand and for the NFC readers provided for supplying the shelf labels on the other hand.
- the fitter of the system is spared the cabling between the actual energy source and the respective shelving unit.
- the shelving units can be positioned substantially as desired within the business and the shelf edge strips to be positioned as desired and simply on a wide variety of shelving units and also to be exchanged between the shelving units.
- This type of energy transmission and the technology on which it is based is referred to using the term “power over WiFi”.
- Wireless energy sources equipped with this technology can be installed for example on the ceiling of business premises and selectively supply, within a range of up to a maximum of 10 metres, the NFC readers assigned to the respective shelf edge strips and located within said range with the aid of powerful, that is to say, focused wireless signals directed towards said NFC readers.
- the NFC reader has a further interface, specifically the already mentioned additional communication module, which is intended for communication with the access point.
- This further interface is designed for wireless communication and accordingly has a wireless transceiver for communication in the 2.4 GHz band, for example.
- the transceiver is an electronic system which is designed both to receive and transmit wireless signals and in which the required functionality for modulating a carrier signal and demodulating receive signals is provided.
- the transceiver can be realized by means of active and passive electronic components or modules, such as a matching network for an antenna and antenna configuration etc., with the aid of which analogue signals can be converted into digital signals and vice versa.
- the transceiver can be coupled to a logic stage.
- the logic stage can be realized for example by means of discrete hardware or have a microprocessor and memory modules or a microcontroller with integrated memory modules so that software stored in the memory modules can be executed.
- the NFC reader can receive a wireless signal from the access point with the aid of its transceiver, process receive data contained in the wireless signal with the aid of the logic stage, and where necessary generate response data with the aid of the logic stage and output said response data again via the transceiver to the access point as a wireless signal.
- the NFC reader thus realizes in communication terms a “gateway” for all the shelf labels mounted on the relevant shelf edge strip.
- the access point is equipped analogously to this in order to communicate wirelessly with the NFC reader.
- Wireless traffic can take place according to WLAN, ZigBee or else Bluetooth communication protocols.
- the access point and the NFC reader are designed for wireless communication according to a (proprietary) time slot communication method; wherein in the time slot communication method, a number of time slots in a repeating sequence per time slot cycle are available for communication, wherein each time slot is preferably identified by a unique time slot symbol.
- a proprietary time slot communication method is preferably used for this, such as that known in principle from WO2015/124197, pages 2 to 4 and FIGS. 1 - 8 C and the associated description, the specific disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, wherein in the present case it is not the shelf labels but the NFC reader which is designed for communication with the access point according to this time slot communication method, specifically as follows.
- the access point communicates with a number of NFC readers such that a number of time slots in a constantly (continuously) repeating sequence per time slot cycle are available for communication, and each time slot is identified uniquely by a unique time slot symbol and thus can be distinguished from other time slots solely by the time slot symbol.
- the access point sends, for the currently present time slot, a synchronization data signal having the time slot symbol at the start of the respective time slot.
- the NFC readers know this time slot communication method system and are designed to change, at a wake-up time, from an (extremely energy-saving) sleep state, in which they are not ready to receive wireless signals, into an active state, in which they are ready to receive wireless signals, and to receive the synchronization data signal in the active state, and, when the received time slot symbol indicates a time slot defined for the respective NFC reader, to define a new wake-up time, which corresponds to the next occurrence of the time slot defined for this NFC reader, in a time slot cycle following the currently present time slot cycle.
- the synchronization data signal could be formed exclusively by the time slot symbol, and further communication parameters required for communication with the access point (or server), such as e.g. address data for addressing or command data for transmitting commands, could be separate from the synchronization data signal.
- the time slot symbol is an extremely compact indicator for synchronizing communication in the system, that is to say, can be formed e.g. by the serial number of the time slot, it is clear that further information can be embedded in the synchronization data signal in addition to the time slot symbol, which is discussed below.
- the access point is designed to embed in the synchronization data signal address data, with the aid of which a number of NFC readers and/or shelf labels per time slot can be addressed individually.
- a command can also, for example, be transmitted to all the devices assigned to a certain time slot without individual addressing and can then be executed by a relatively large group of devices, for example all of them.
- the shelf label could execute a standardized (predefined) task merely by detecting its individual addressing, without an explicit command having to be received.
- address data are transmitted to address an individual shelf label and command data are transmitted to transmit a command to the said individual shelf label, and the shelf label is designed to evaluate the command data and execute the command when it is addressed individually with the aid of the address data.
- a command for a single shelf label can thus be transmitted in a sometimes relatively large group of shelf labels.
- each NFC reader involved in communication with the relevant access point that is to say, is assigned to it wirelessly e.g. by initial registration, to know the time slot symbol which indicates the time slot defined for it.
- Each of the NFC readers therefore orients itself individually by the occurrence of a time slot symbol relevant for it, identifies the time slot symbol relevant for it, and defines its next wake-up time in order to remain synchronous with the timing of the time slot communication method predefined by the communication station, this timing being known to the NFC reader, as mentioned.
- the time slot symbol it is completely sufficient for the time slot symbol to identify the respective time slot uniquely, e.g. with a time slot identifier that is individual for each time slot.
- NFC readers synchronously with the access point to which they are wirelessly assigned.
- the relevant NFC reader therefore establishes its synchronism with the access point solely by the fact of detecting the time slot symbol, which occurs at the time expected by it or within an expected time window and indicates the time slot intended for it.
- the NFC reader After the NFC reader has established its synchronism as explained above, it is in principle sufficient for it to change back into the sleep state, because the next wake-up time is automatically known by means of the time slot pattern, known to it, of the time slot communication method.
- the definition of the new wake-up time can thus be limited to, e.g. a time control stage (e.g. a timer) of the NFC reader being restarted with the timing parameters already used previously to change from the sleep state to the active state.
- the affected NFC reader can then change back into the sleep state and stay there until, triggered by the time controller, a wake-up and a change from the sleep state to the active state is carried out again at the new wake-up time in the next time slot cycle.
- the NFC reader does not necessarily have to stay in the sleep state for the rest of the time slot intended for it, but can also process further tasks, such as e.g. NFC communication with one of the shelf labels, in its active state during the time slot or also during the time slot cycle.
- the previously explained time controller then operates in the background independently of the other, further activities of the NFC reader.
- the new wake-up time can be defined by defining an absolute or relative time specification, for example relatively to the time of occurrence of the synchronization data signal or relatively to the time at which the sleep state is assumed again after the active state, or else relatively to the time at which the end of the synchronization data signal occurs.
- the definition of the new wake-up time can also be understood such that the duration of the sleep state following the active state in which the time slot symbol was received or else the sum of the durations of the sleep state and of the active state or else the sum of the durations of multiple such state sequences defines the new wake-up time.
- the definition of the new wake-up time can also include compensation for a drift of the time basis present individually for each NFC reader.
- a time difference between the expected occurrence of the synchronization data signal with the time slot symbol which indicates the time slot defined for the respective NFC reader and the actual occurrence can be measured in the NFC reader and taken into account in the time control stage to correct its timing.
- the compensation is only used when synchronism is established.
- a different time slot symbol instead of the expected time slot symbol was received, there is no synchronism and the NFC reader must carry out a re-synchronization.
- such an asynchronous NFC reader changes from its sleep state into its active state and remains in the ready-to-receive state in this active state e.g. a single time at any desired time rather than periodically, as would be the case in the synchronous state. If nothing was received within a certain time period, for example a time slot duration, it changes back into the sleep state and repeats the receive attempt at another time. As soon as a synchronization data signal is received, the time slot symbol is evaluated, that is to say, checked.
- the time slot symbol received indicates with the highest probability a time slot which is not defined for the NFC reader in question, which is established autonomously by the NFC reader.
- the NFC reader knows the system of the occurrence of the time slot symbols and can automatically decide, after evaluating the received time slot symbol, whether it can expect the time slot defined for it in the present time slot cycle (first case) or not until the following time slot cycle (second case).
- the NFC reader is designed to define a new wake-up time corresponding to the next occurrence of the time slot defined for it, in the currently present time slot cycle.
- the NFC reader establishes that the time slot defined for it will occur in the currently present time slot cycle.
- the NFC reader is designed to define a new wake-up time corresponding to the next occurrence of the time slot defined for it, in the time slot cycle following the currently present time slot cycle.
- the NFC reader establishes that the time slot defined for it will no longer occur in the currently present time slot cycle because it has already occurred in the past within this time slot cycle.
- the said time controller is also used for this type of definition of the new wake-up time, wherein the time controller is operated with the timing parameter with which the desired entry into the synchronous state is achieved.
- the timing parameter to be selected results for the supply device from the inherent knowledge of the time slot communication method used.
- the timing parameter is therefore defined by the electronics of the NFC reader, which has knowledge of the parameters of the time slot communication method.
- parameters can be requested from the access point by the NFC reader or transmitted to it when the NFC reader is registered at the respective access point, or can already be programmed into the NFC reader beforehand. In both cases, it is expedient if the NFC reader has a storage stage for storing the parameters of the time slot communication method, and the NFC reader is designed to access and take into account these parameters for the purpose of defining the new wake-up time.
- the parameters can represent all the details of the timing of the time slot communication method, such as parameters relating to time sequences for communicating between the access point and the NFC reader, parameters relating to predefined times or time segments, but also parameters relating to the basic structure of the time slot communication method such as e.g.
- an asynchronous NFC reader can clarify autonomously, that is to say, automatically for itself without external assistance, whether, on the basis of the time slot symbol just received, the time slot defined for it can still be expected within the currently present time slot cycle or whether the time slot defined for it already belongs to the past in the present time slot cycle and therefore the next time slot defined for it will not occur until the next time slot cycle.
- the NFC reader in question calculates the new wake-up time in the active state, changes to the sleep state, and changes to the active state at the calculated wake-up time, receives the time slot symbol of the time slot defined for it and is then back in the synchronous state. If no further activities are expected of it in the present time slot, it changes immediately to the sleep state and then does not change back to the active state until the next time slot cycle, in order to receive the synchronization data signal in the time slot defined for it.
- the NFC reader stores a data structure representing an assignment of a shelf label fastened to its shelf edge strip to one of the time slots, the NFC reader being designed to check the time slot to which a shelf label is assigned according to the data structure as to whether the shelf label fastened to its shelf edge strip is addressed by the server.
- the data structure is composed of the shelf label identifier, which is also known to the server and used by it for addressing, and the associated time slot symbol. They form a data pair of the data structure for each shelf label fastened to the shelf edge strip of the NFC reader. If multiple shelf labels fastened to this shelf edge strip are assigned to a certain time slot, which is quite possible technically, their shelf label identifiers can also be assigned to the respective time slot symbol in a grouped manner, or else separate data pairs consisting of the respective shelf label identifier and the relevant time slot symbol can be stored in the data structure.
- the data structure also has a shelf label NFC identifier for each shelf label identifier defined for addressing by the server, said shelf label NFC identifier being used in NFC communication between the NFC reader and the shelf label to address the NFC-enabled shelf label on the NFC communication level.
- the NFC reader is designed to transfer data between the addressed shelf label and the access point when there is a positive check result. Depending on the design variant, these data can then be transferred initially to the NFC reader in the time slot defined for the addressed shelf label according to the data structure or else distributed over multiple additional time slots. Depending on whether the data are time-critical data, these data can then be communicated with the relevant shelf label in real time, that is to say, in the respective time slot, within the NFC sub-system. If the data are not time-critical, it can be initially received in the relevant time slot and buffer-stored in the NFC reader during a planned transfer to the shelf label and then transferred to the shelf label in NFC communication separately from the timing of the time slot communication method.
- the data can be command data or else content data.
- Content data are often coupled to command data.
- a display control command with image data forming content data can thus be transferred to a shelf label with a display unit.
- Temperature data etc. can also be retrieved with the aid of a query command from an addressed shelf label which has a temperature sensor.
- the design of the NFC reader in the present case is characterized in that the NFC reader, as mentioned, comprises its energy-saving sleep state, in which it is not ready to communicate with the access point, and its active state, in which it is ready to communicate with the access point, and in that the NFC reader is designed to change from the sleep state to the active state promptly upon the occurrence of the time slot to which a shelf label is assigned according to the data structure.
- the NFC reader can also be in its active state multiple times within a time slot cycle for the purposes of checking synchronism and addressing. Specifically, the number of these active states depends on how many time slots are assigned to it on shelf labels assigned to the shelf edge strip.
- the data structure therefore allows the synchronous NFC reader to be in the active state at the time of occurrence of the respective time slot symbol and to check whether one or more of its shelf labels which is/are recorded in its data structure is/are addressed by the server with the aid of the address data.
- the server stores an individual shelf label identifier of each shelf label in a database and addresses the respective shelf labels directly using the shelf label identifier.
- the access point identifier is also used for this, to address the access point via which the relevant shelf label can be wirelessly addressed.
- a significant advantage of this embodiment consists in that it is backwards-compatible with that in the aforementioned WO2015/124197. Accordingly, the software application running on the server does not have to have any knowledge of the NFC sub-system. However, this embodiment has a significantly better system energy balance than the system disclosed in WO2015/124197 even from an installation of two or more shelf labels per shelf edge strip, the two or more shelf labels being assigned to a single time slot.
- each shelf label must namely be in the active state at least once per time slot cycle in order to verify its synchronous state and consequently to check whether it is addressed.
- only the NFC controller to which the said two of the plurality of shelf labels are assigned has to be in the active state in the relevant time slot in order to verify the synchronism and check whether one or more of the shelf labels are addressed.
- the NFC reader itself is assigned to one of the time slots and stores a data structure which represent the shelf labels fastened to the shelf edge strip of the NFC reader, and the NFC reader is designed to check the time slot to which it is itself assigned as to whether the shelf label fastened to its shelf edge strip is addressed by the server.
- the addressing carried out by the server relates to the primary, that is to say, direct addressing of the NFC reader, via which one of its shelf labels is then addressed indirectly.
- the indirect addressing of the shelf label is transmitted to the addressed NFC reader e.g. in the form of the command data, which was mentioned in connection with the explanation of the time slot communication method and which represents an indirect addressing command which contains, as argument, the shelf label identifier of the shelf label to be indirectly addressed, in the time slot to which the NFC reader is assigned.
- the data structure is composed of the shelf label identifier of the shelf labels which are fastened to the shelf edge strip of the relevant NFC reader.
- the data structure also has a shelf label NFC identifier for each shelf label identifier defined for addressing by the server, said shelf label NFC identifier being used in NFC communication between the NFC reader and the shelf label to address the NFC-enabled shelf label on the NFC communication level.
- the data structure can also have the time slot symbol which identifies or indicates the time slot which is defined for the NFC reader.
- the NFC reader is designed, when there is a positive check result, to transfer data between the addressed shelf label and the access point in the time slot defined for it.
- the design of the NFC reader in the present case is such that the NFC reader, as mentioned, comprises an energy-saving sleep state, in which it is not ready to communicate with the access point, and an active state, in which it is ready to communicate with the access point, and that the NFC reader is designed to change from the sleep state to the active state promptly upon the occurrence of the time slot to which it is itself assigned.
- a synchronous NFC reader is in the active state only a single time within a single time slot cycle, in order to check its synchronism and check whether it is addressed in the time slot defined for it.
- the server stores, in a database, a link between a reader identifier of an NFC reader and a shelf label identifier of the shelf label which is installed on the shelf edge strip of the NFC reader, and addresses a shelf label indirectly via the link between the shelf label identifier of the shelf label to be addressed and the reader identifier.
- the second embodiment is no longer backwards-compatible with that of the aforementioned WO2015/124197, because the system according to WO2015/124197 does not have any possibility at all of storing and managing the reader identifier and using it for addressing the shelf labels.
- the second embodiment is much more energy-efficient in comparison with the solution of WO2015/124197, but also in contrast to the solution according to the first embodiment, specifically even as soon as two or more shelf labels per shelf edge strip are installed.
- each shelf label must namely be in the active state at least once per time slot cycle in order to verify its synchronous state and then check whether it is addressed.
- the NFC reader must be in the active state twice per time slot cycle when two shelf labels assigned to different time slots are installed on its shelf edge strip.
- the NFC reader is in the active state only once per time slot cycle in order to verify its synchronous state and then check whether it is addressed. In particular, this is independent of how many shelf labels are installed on its shelf edge strip.
- the shelf label comprises an energy-saving display unit, in particular based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology etc., which makes a considerable contribution to the energy efficiency of the system.
- Such a display unit manages without energy consumption, apart from changes to the image content.
- the shelf label comprises a chargeable, electrical energy storage device, preferably the aforementioned long-term energy storage device, and is designed to charge the energy storage device contactlessly with the aid of an NFC wireless signal of the NFC reader.
- a chargeable, electrical energy storage device preferably the aforementioned long-term energy storage device
- the NFC sub-system ensures autonomous operation of the shelf labels even for time periods in which there is no NFC wireless signal, specifically without any outlay on cabling and/or maintenance, which would otherwise be necessary for replacing batteries and the disposal of spent batteries or the recharging of chargeable batteries.
- every access point installed in the system acts as a higher-level interface between the server or its software application and the NFC sub-system registered at the respective access point.
- the NFC reader assumes this interface function, said NFC reader acting as a lower-level interface between the shelf labels installed on its shelf edge strip and the access point to which the respective NFC reader, and thus also the respective NFC sub-system to which the NFC reader belongs, is logically (wirelessly) assigned.
- a plurality of access points can be installed, each access point being provided for communication with the NFC readers logically assigned to it, which are located within a geographical region (within wireless range) around the access point.
- shelf labels can for example be programmed such that they output their identifier (once or multiple times) at randomly selected times within a time window in order to ensure individual receipt at the NFC reader of the shelf edge strip.
- An anti-collision method known for example from RFID technology can likewise be used during this contactless transfer in order to ensure individual receipt at the NFC reader of the shelf edge strip.
- the detection of the NFC-enabled shelf labels fastened to the shelf edge strip is referred to as running through a polling loop, wherein the NFC reader checks which shelf labels are present and detects their shelf label NFC identifier.
- the shelf label identifier requested from the shelf label by the NFC reader is forwarded by the NFC reader, in a communication with the access point, to the server of the business premises, which server carries out and coordinates communication with the individual electronic shelf labels in order then to request data from them or transmit data to them.
- the server also stores the logical link between products placed on the respective shelving unit and the shelf label (displays) positioned there and thus ensures that the respective shelf label display presents the information belonging to the product positioned corresponding to the shelf label.
- the server can also be informed of the position or extent of the respective conductor loop on the shelf edge strip and can also be informed, by the respective NFC reader together with the shelf label identifier, of which conductor loop was used to acquire the shelf label identifier from the shelf label.
- Three-dimensional digital maps of the positions of all the shelf labels in a business premises can thus also be created. This relates both to the shelf labels (shelf label displays) configured to display information and analogously to the shelf labels which provide the other possible functionalities mentioned.
- the electronics of the different devices or components and/or modules of the system and the interface thereof etc. can be realized with the aid of a wide variety of passive and active electronic components or functional units in a discrete or integrated manner.
- a microprocessor with corresponding peripheral components or a microcontroller, upon which a software for providing the various functionalities is executed, is used in this case.
- ASICs Application-Specific Integrated Circuits
- FIG. 1 schematically shows a detail of an electronic shelf label system according to the invention having an “intelligent” shelf edge strip
- FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a shelf label as a block diagram
- FIG. 3 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the shelf edge strip as a block diagram with an NFC sub-system
- FIG. 4 schematically shows a shelf edge strip with a shelf label in a perspective view
- FIG. 5 schematically shows a sectional diagram of the shelf edge strip
- FIG. 6 schematically shows an exploded view of the shelf edge strip
- FIG. 7 schematically shows a state diagram of system component activities according to a first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 8 schematically shows a state diagram of system component activities according to a second exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a shelf label system 1 , which comprises a number of identical electronic NFC-enabled shelf labels 2 A- 2 K realized as shelf label displays and fastened to three “intelligent” shelf edge strips 3 .
- Each of the shelf edge strips 3 has an NFC sub-system.
- An NFC reader 4 A- 4 C is a constituent of each NFC sub-system.
- the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C is inserted laterally into the shelf edge strip 3 .
- Each shelf edge strip 3 furthermore has, as a constituent of the NFC sub-system, a conductor loop L, which extends along the entire length of the shelf edge strip 3 , and the conductor loop connectors C of which are electrically conductively connected to the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C.
- the conductor loop L forms the antenna of the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C and is thus a constituent, integrated in the shelf edge strip 3 , of the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C.
- shelf labels 2 A- 2 K are installed on the respective shelf edge strip 3 corresponding to the conductor loop L thereof and have been detected by the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C there, these shelf labels 2 A- 2 K also form a constituent of the respective NFC sub-system of the shelf edge strip 3 .
- the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C assumes the role of a shelf edge strip controller for controlling the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K installed on its shelf edge strip 3 .
- the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C communicates with the NFC-enabled shelf labels 2 A- 2 K installed on its shelf edge strip 3 according to an NFC communication protocol. To this end, it sends an NFC wireless signal with the aid of the conductor loop L, said NFC wireless signal being used at the respective shelf label 2 A- 2 K both for energy supply and for data transmission.
- a data processing device which in the present case is realized with the aid of a server 5 , which is connected in a wired manner to an access point 6 , which has two antennas 7 , for example.
- the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C are furthermore modified such that they are in wireless contact with the access point 6 via first wireless signals F 1 according to a proprietary time slot communication method.
- image contents of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K can be changed from the server 5 , where necessary also associated status information can be requested from the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K and transmitted to the server 5 .
- Each of the shelf edge strips 3 is mounted on the front edge of an individual shelf 8 .
- the three shelves 8 illustrated all belong to a shelving unit 9 indicated only very schematically. Different products can be placed on the shelves 8 but in the present case are not illustrated for reasons of simplicity.
- the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C are designed such that they can for their part be supplied with energy with the aid of a second wireless signal F 2 .
- the system 1 has a supply transmitter 10 (also referred to as a wireless energy source), which is designed to transmit electrical energy at a certain transmitting power, such as 5 W for example, to a receiver (that is to say, to one of the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C) with the aid of the focused or directed (second) wireless signal F 2 .
- Such a supply transmitter 10 also has a plurality of antennas 11 (in this case, six units are illustrated), with the aid of which the direction of the energy transmission (ultimately the propagation of the second wireless signal F 2 ) can be set relatively precisely so that the second wireless signal F 2 transmitting the energy arrives precisely at the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C.
- This energy transmission is known under the term “power over WiFi”.
- FIG. 2 A block diagram of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K is explained in the following using FIG. 2 , wherein the reference sign 2 has been used for the identical shelf labels 2 A- 2 K for the sake of simplicity.
- the block diagram shows a first NFC interface 12 with its coupling coil or antenna 13 .
- the NFC wireless signal can be received by another NFC-enabled device, in the present case the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C.
- the coupling coil 13 must be positioned correspondingly close (a few tenths of a millimetre to approximately 4 millimetres) to the conductor loop L, which is the case with the shelf labels 2 fastened to one of the shelf edge strips 3 .
- a first supply voltage VCC 1 (relative to a local first reference potential GND 1 ) for operating the entire shelf label 2 is generated with the aid of the NFC interface 12 .
- the first NFC interface 12 has electronics 12 A which are designed for generating the first supply voltage VCC 1 and for providing the NFC communication capability. Furthermore, the electronics 12 A have a long-term energy storage device, realized in the present case as a supercap 12 B, with the aid of which the first supply voltage VCC 1 can be maintained even in the absence of the NFC wireless signal, over longer periods than would be the case with the aid of a smoothing capacitor or backup capacitors (neither of which is illustrated).
- the shelf label 2 can thus be operational and execute tasks, such as detecting temperature or user inputs according to the design, even in the absence of the NFC wireless signal.
- the supercap 12 B is charged with the aid of the electronics 12 A when the NFC wireless signal is present.
- the first NFC interface 12 is also available for contactless bidirectional communication of data D.
- a constituent of these electronics 12 A is an NFC tag controller, which provides the entire NFC functionality, is not illustrated here in detail however, but is integrated in the first NFC interface 12 .
- the block diagram also shows a display unit 14 , which is connected to the first NFC interface 12 and is divided into an electronic paper display controller 15 , EPD controller 15 for short, and an electronic paper display screen 16 which can be controlled therewith.
- EPD controller 15 the data received via the first NFC interface 12 are interpreted, the image contents of the screen 16 are changed accordingly, where necessary, or else status information in the form of data D is output to the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C via the first NFC interface 12 .
- FIG. 3 A block diagram of the shelf edge strip 3 is explained below using FIG. 3 .
- the reference numeral 4 Analogously to the description of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K, the reference numeral 4 has been used for the identical NFC readers 4 A- 4 C in this case too.
- the shelf edge strip 3 supports the shelf labels 2 G- 2 K and is therefore the shelf edge strip 3 illustrated at the bottom of FIG. 1 .
- the shelf labels 2 G- 2 K are positioned corresponding to the position of the conductor loop L.
- the electrical connection of the loop connectors C to second electronics 18 A of the NFC reader 4 can be seen.
- the conductor loop L forms, together with the second electronics 18 A, a second NFC interface 18 of the NFC reader 4 .
- the second electronics 18 A have their own NFC reader controller (not illustrated), which provides the entire NFC reader functionality.
- the NFC wireless signal can be generated and output, and thus electrical energy can be transmitted contactlessly to the shelf labels 2 G- 2 K, and bidirectional communication of data with them can be carried out.
- the conductor loop L is a constituent of the NFC reader 4 , it is accommodated outside the NFC reader 4 in the mechanical structure of the shelf edge strip 3 . This is symbolized by a structure 17 of the shelf edge strip 3 , which encloses the conductor loop L and adjoins the NFC reader 4 .
- the NFC reader 4 furthermore has an access point communication module 19 , which is designed for wireless communication with the access point 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the access point communication module 19 has electronics (not illustrated in detail) designed therefor and an antenna configuration 19 A, which can also comprise multiple antennas.
- the supply device 4 has a control unit 20 .
- the control unit 20 is realized with the aid of a microcontroller, which is connected to the second NFC interface 18 and the access point communication interface 19 via a bidirectional data bus.
- the NFC reader 4 has a supply receiver 21 which is suitable for receiving the second wireless signal F 2 and is equipped with its antenna configuration 22 (which can have multiple antennas) and electronics (not illustrated in detail), which are designed to receive the second wireless signal F 2 and to store the energy transmitted therewith in an internal electrical energy storage device 23 (chargeable battery, rechargeable battery or supercap etc.) and thus to generate a second supply voltage VCC 2 in relation to a second reference potential GND 2 for the electrical supply of the NFC reader 4 .
- an internal electrical energy storage device 23 chargeable battery, rechargeable battery or supercap etc.
- the control unit 20 is also connected by its data bus to the supply receiver 21 .
- the NFC reader 4 can query or monitor the state of charge of the energy storage device 23 , for example with the aid of the control unit 20 of the NFC reader. As soon as the state of charge falls below a certain level, the control unit 20 can request a (re)charge with the aid of the first wireless signal F 1 . This request is received by the access point 6 and can be forwarded directly to the supply transmitter 10 or forwarded to the supply transmitter 10 by involving the server 5 , depending on the implementation. Since the exact geographical position (the three-dimensional coordinates) of each of the NFC readers 4 within the business premises and their unique reader identifier is known in the system 1 (e.g.
- the supply transmitter 10 can send the second wireless signal F 2 in a precisely directed manner towards the position of the respective NFC reader 4 requesting charging.
- the second wireless signal F 2 is received there, and the energy thus transmitted is used to charge the internal energy storage device 23 .
- the shelf edge strip 3 described here is therefore designed, with the aid of its NFC sub-system, for contactless communication with the shelf labels 2 installed on it and with an access point 6 assigned wirelessly to it and for contactless provision of energy within the meaning of energy storage for the NFC reader's 4 own operation and for the contactless energy supply of the respective shelf labels 2 .
- the supply transmitter 10 can also be installed in the access point 6 .
- FIG. 4 thus shows a shelf edge strip 3 with a shelf label 2 fastened to it and with the NFC reader 4 inserted laterally into the shelf edge strip 3 and fastened in the structure of the shelf edge strip 3 with screws 24 .
- This shelf edge strip 3 has a length of approximately 3 m, a height of approximately 4.5 cm and a thickness of 1.2 cm, for example.
- FIG. 5 shows a section through the shelf edge strip 3 according to a sectional plane A-A drawn in FIG. 4 , which is oriented transversely (normal to the front of the shelf edge strip 3 ) through the shelf edge strip 3 and runs at the point at which contact elements 25 of the NFC reader 4 are formed, which are used to contact the conductor loop L of the NFC reader 4 running in the shelf edge strip 3 .
- the contact elements 25 make contact with contact tabs 26 , which are for their part in contact with the conductor loop connectors C.
- the contact tabs 26 can however be omitted if a different geometry is selected, and therefore the conductor loop connectors C can also be contacted directly with the contact elements 25 .
- a shielding plate 27 can furthermore be seen on the rear side of the shelf edge strip 3 and likewise extends along the entire shelf edge strip 3 analogously to the conductor loop L.
- FIG. 6 shows the NFC reader 4 fastened to a rail or sliding mechanism, the sliding mechanism being partially drawn out of a shaft, designed for receiving it, in the shelf edge strip 3 .
- FIGS. 7 - 8 each show a state diagram with the time t being plotted on the abscissa and states Z of the system components being plotted on the ordinate.
- FIG. 7 shows a chronological system in the time slot communication method, in which N (e.g. 256 ) time slots Z 1 . . . ZN with an identical time slot duration DS (e.g. approximately 58 milliseconds) are available in a continuously repeating manner within a time slot cycle duration DC (e.g. 15 seconds).
- N e.g. 256
- time slots Z 1 . . . ZN with an identical time slot duration DS (e.g. approximately 58 milliseconds) are available in a continuously repeating manner within a time slot cycle duration DC (e.g. 15 seconds).
- the access point 6 changes between a transmitting state T and an idle state R.
- the transmitting state T is always assumed at the start of a time slot Z 1 . . . ZN and is maintained for a synchronization data signal duration DSD (or transmission time duration DSD) of the synchronization data signal SD in order to transmit the respective applicable time slot symbol ZS 1 , ZS 2 ,
- the serial number of the respective time slot Z 1 . . . ZN in the order of occurrence of the time slot Z 1 . . . ZN is used as the respective time slot cycle symbol ZS 1 . . . ZSN.
- address data AD and where necessary also command data CD are embedded in the synchronization data signal SD of the relevant time slot Z 1 -ZN by the access point 6 .
- each NFC reader 4 A- 4 C has initially detected the shelf labels 2 A- 2 C, 2 D- 2 F and 2 G- 2 K attached to its shelf edge strip 3 with the aid of an NFC polling loop and stored their individual shelf label NFC identifier in order to carry out NFC communication with them.
- each NFC reader 4 A- 4 C stores which of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 C, 2 D- 2 F and 2 G- 2 K attached to its shelf edge strip 3 is assigned to which of the time slots Z 1 -ZN.
- This data structure, stored in the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C, for assigning the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K also uses the server 5 to address the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K individually, in which case multiple shelf labels 2 A- 2 K can also be assigned to one time slot Z 1 -ZN.
- the shelf labels 2 A- 2 C are assigned chronologically to the first three time slots Z 1 -Z 3 .
- the entries in the data structure of the NFC reader 4 A then prompt it to change from its sleep state S to its active state A promptly upon the occurrence of the synchronization data signal SD of the first, second and third time slots Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 . It can be advantageous here if the duration of the active state is slightly longer than the synchronization data signal duration DSD.
- the NFC reader 4 A establishes its synchronism on the basis of the time slot symbol ZS 1 , ZS 2 and ZS 3 contained in the respective synchronization data structure SD and checks whether the shelf label 2 A, 2 B or 2 C assigned to the respective time slot Z 1 , Z 2 or Z 3 is addressed individually by the server 5 with the aid of the address data AD.
- the shelf labels 2 B and 2 C are addressed, which leads to NFC communication, delayed in the present case, between the NFC reader 4 A and the two shelf labels 2 B and 2 C, which is visualized by the arrows K.
- the NFC wireless signal is generated, and the first supply voltage VCC 1 is generated. This results in the respective shelf label 2 B or 2 C leaving its sleep state S and changing to its active state A.
- the respective command data CD is transferred to the addressed shelf label 2 B and 2 C and processed there.
- the second NFC reader 4 B behaves analogously, the shelf labels 2 D, 2 E and 2 F of which are assigned to the fourth to sixth time slots Z 4 , Z 5 and Z 6 , wherein in the present case, it is assumed that only the fourth and the sixth shelf labels 2 D and 2 F are addressed.
- the shelf labels 2 A, 2 E and 2 G- 2 K which are not addressed therefore all remain in their energy-saving sleep state S within the time slot cycle visualized.
- the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C also remain in their sleep state S in time slots Z 1 -ZN for which no shelf labels assigned to the respective time slot Z 1 -ZN are recorded in the data structure.
- the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C can also be in the active state A continuously or multiple times within the respective time slot Z 1 -ZN, if, for example an acknowledgement from the respective shelf label 2 A- 2 K must take place within the relevant time slot or also additional data are to be transmitted with the affected shelf label 2 A- 2 K within this time slot.
- Data transmissions between the access point 6 and the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C can also extend over multiple time slots Z 1 -ZN, which can lead to the active state A being present multiple times at the affected NFC reader 4 A- 4 C within the time slot cycle.
- Data transmission within the NFC sub-system can also take place in real time in the respective time slot when addressing of a shelf label 2 A- 2 K is detected, that is to say, not with a time delay with respect to the respective time slot as shown in FIG. 7 .
- each of the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C is assigned to a certain time slot Z 1 -ZN, for example, the first NFC reader 4 A is assigned to the first time slot Z 1 , the second NFC reader 4 B is assigned to the third time slot Z 3 , and the third NFC reader 4 C is assigned to the fourth time slot Z 4 .
- the assignment of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 K to the respective time slots Z 1 -ZN necessarily results only by means of this assignment of the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C to the time slots.
- the shelf labels 2 A- 2 C are assigned to the first time slot Z 1
- the shelf labels 2 D- 2 F are assigned to the third time slot Z 3
- the shelf labels 2 G- 2 K are assigned to the fourth time slot Z 4 .
- the server 5 To be able to address a shelf label 2 A- 2 K within this system 1 , the server 5 must know which NFC reader 4 A- 4 C can wirelessly operate which shelf label 2 A- 2 K in an NFC communication in order then to address the shelf label 2 A- 2 C, 2 D- 2 F or 2 G- 2 K available there indirectly via the addressing of the respective NFC reader 4 A- 4 C in the time slot communication method. This assignment is stored in a database of the server 5 .
- the data structure of the NFC reader 4 A- 4 C stores the time slot symbol ZS 1 -ZSN of the time slot Z 1 -ZN to which the relevant NFC reader 4 A- 4 C is assigned and the addresses (shelf label identifiers) of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 C, 2 D- 2 F or 2 G- 2 K that can be addressed via it.
- the shelf label NFC identifiers for NFC communication are stored in the NFC sub-system.
- the entries in the data structure of the first NFC reader 4 A then cause it to change from its sleep state S to its active state A promptly upon occurrence of the synchronization data signal SD of the first time slot Z 1 , to establish its synchronism and to check whether it is addressed by the server 5 for the purpose of indirect addressing of shelf labels. If this is the case, it is further checked whether the server also addresses one of the shelf labels 2 A- 2 C and, if this addressing is present, data traffic is handled where necessary in an NFC communication of the NFC reader 2 A with this addressed shelf label.
- the second NFC reader 4 B which changes from its sleep state S to its active state A within the period of the occurrence of the synchronization data signal SD of the third time slot Z 1 , establishes its synchronism and carries out its check as to whether it is addressed by the server 5 for the purpose of indirect addressing of shelf labels. It is assumed here that only the fifth shelf label 2 E is addressed, which leads to an NFC communication with this in the NFC sub-system.
- the situation is similar with the third NFC reader 4 C, the entries of which in its data structure cause it to change from its sleep state S to its active state A promptly upon occurrence of the synchronization data signal SD of the fourth time slot Z 4 , to establish its synchronism and to check whether it is addressed by the server 5 for the purpose of indirect addressing of shelf labels, in order to address one of its shelf labels 2 G- 2 K when such an addressing sequence is present. It is assumed here that only the eleventh shelf label 2 K was addressed, which leads to an NFC communication with this in the NFC sub-system.
- the NFC readers 4 A- 4 C have to be active less often in each time slot cycle in the implementation according to the second exemplary embodiment, which means that, in the comparison of the two exemplary embodiments, the second exemplary embodiment prevails over the first exemplary embodiment in terms of energy efficiency.
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Abstract
Description
-
- An access point identifier uniquely identifies the respective access point. The access point identifiers of the access points existing in the system are known to the server, that is to say, stored there, because all communication with individual shelf labels flows via the respective access point to which the relevant shelf label is wirelessly assigned, that is to say registered.
- A shelf label identifier uniquely identifies the respective shelf label for the server. In order to be able to handle addressed data traffic with the shelf labels, the server therefore also manages the shelf label identifier, unique to it, of each shelf label in use in the business. In particular, the server stores the assignment between the respective access point and the shelf labels assigned to this access point.
- A shelf label NFC identifier uniquely identifies each shelf label in the context of NFC communication and is used again during such NFC communication with an NFC reader.
- A reader NFC identifier is the counterpart on the side of the NFC reader and uniquely identifies an NFC reader for NFC communication with one of the NFC-enabled shelf labels.
- A reader identifier uniquely identifies each NFC reader and is needed for example during registration of the relevant NFC reader at one of the access points in order to communicate wirelessly with this access point subsequently.
Claims (13)
Applications Claiming Priority (13)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EPPCT/EP2019/065718 | 2019-06-14 | ||
PCT/EP2019/065715 WO2020249231A1 (en) | 2019-06-14 | 2019-06-14 | Electronic shelf labelling system with a power supply |
EPPCT/EP2019/065715 | 2019-06-14 | ||
PCT/EP2019/065718 WO2020249232A1 (en) | 2019-06-14 | 2019-06-14 | Method for locating an electronic shelf label |
WOPCT/EP2019/065715 | 2019-06-14 | ||
WOPCT/EP2019/065718 | 2019-06-14 | ||
PCT/EP2019/065894 WO2020253940A1 (en) | 2019-06-17 | 2019-06-17 | Electronic shelf tag system with standardized radio communication protocol |
WOPCT/EP2019/065894 | 2019-06-17 | ||
EPPCT/EP2019/065894 | 2019-06-17 | ||
WOPCT/EP2019/072141 | 2019-08-19 | ||
EPPCT/EP2019/072141 | 2019-08-19 | ||
PCT/EP2019/072141 WO2021032278A1 (en) | 2019-08-19 | 2019-08-19 | Electronic shelf tag system with contactless shelf tag power supply and/or data supply |
PCT/EP2019/086993 WO2020249251A1 (en) | 2019-06-14 | 2019-12-23 | Electronic shelf labelling system with a shelf edge strip sub-system |
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US11853834B2 true US11853834B2 (en) | 2023-12-26 |
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EP (1) | EP3984259A1 (en) |
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US20240176963A1 (en) * | 2022-11-28 | 2024-05-30 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Positioning reference signal configuration for backscatter-based positioning procedure |
US12022964B1 (en) | 2023-01-31 | 2024-07-02 | Carter-Hoffmann LLC | Heated display cabinet |
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- 2019-12-23 WO PCT/EP2019/086993 patent/WO2020249251A1/en active Application Filing
- 2019-12-23 EP EP19828280.8A patent/EP3984259A1/en active Pending
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US8556172B2 (en) * | 2007-10-05 | 2013-10-15 | Ishida Co., Ltd. | Electronic shelf label system and display method |
US20180366040A1 (en) * | 2015-12-10 | 2018-12-20 | Ses-Imagotag Gmbh | Display device having a controllable deep-sleep mode |
US11636783B2 (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2023-04-25 | Opticon Sensors Europe B.V. | Electronic shelf label system |
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WO2020249251A1 (en) | 2020-12-17 |
EP3984259A1 (en) | 2022-04-20 |
CN113994723A (en) | 2022-01-28 |
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